Investigation opened as former prisoner dies days after release from HMP Five Wells
A watchdog has opened a probe into the death of a former inmate at a Wellingborough jail.
John Boswell died on February 22, in the days following his release from HMP Five Wells.
The 46-year-old is the tenth prisoner to die in connection with Five Wells in just over three years, and is the third to die just after being released from jail.
In 2023 Jason McDonagh starved to death in a park in Wellingborough three days after he was let out of the prison.
A report into the death of Nicholas Lowe, who died after his release in October 2025, is in progress.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigates all deaths in custody, as well as those within two weeks of release, to ensure that no mistakes have been made and so that lessons can be learned from the deaths. People who are leaving custody are highly vulnerable.
A HMP Five Wells spokesperson said:
“Former prisoner John Boswell died in the community on 22 February 2026, after his release from HMP Five Wells.
“All deaths in custody, and those that occur within 14 days of release, are investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. The cause of death will be for the coroner to determine.”
The other prisoners to die while serving prisoners at HMP Five Wells, or just after release, are Brian Haines, Dean Newton, Nicholas Lowe, Tudor Owen, Jason McDonagh, Roger Lemon, Reece Pryce, Kevin Golby and Harold Day. Last month inquests into the death of Reece Pryce and Kevin Golby took place at Northampton’s Guildhall.